Exploring new ways of seeing, new ways of being with an open heart and an open mind

Sunday, September 11, 2011

An Evening in Utah with Edith Piaf

In the spring of 2004, late April, I was in Bluff, Utah, with my friend, JB. Located in the southeastern corner of the state, it's a tiny town with a population of about 300 people. It sits next to the San Juan River, among what has to be some of the best hiking on the planet: countless red rock canyons to explore and play in, long afternoons to sit quietly under those endless blue skies and just listen, surrounded by a profound sense of history.

On this particular spring day, despite being in what seems like the middle of nowhere, we decided to celebrate my birthday by going to dinner. You might think a town of this size would be bereft of possibilities. Not so. The Cow Canyon Trading Post, a sprawling old adobe home, sits alone at the edge of town. Besides the art gallery it contains, there is a restaurant unlike anything anyone could ever imagine possible in this little corner of Utah.

Offering a small menu of exceptional quality, prepared by a talented and skilled chef, our meal that evening was something beyond delicious. Truly remarkable. But, it was the ambiance that made it so very memorable.

We were seated on a porch in the back, with floor length glass windows on three sides. It had a smooth stone floor, high-backed wooden chairs, and a table with turned legs and fading yellow paint, the kind you might find in an old farmhouse. A simple bouquet of fresh flowers sat on the table next to the adobe wall. From there, we could see her wash on the clothesline blowing back and forth in the breeze, budding greenery just beyond it, and then the canyon walls shining in the evening light. We sat quietly. It was a perfect spring evening.

As the wash on the line gently lifted and fell, lifted and fell, we could hear the exquisite sound of Edith Piaf singing, "Non, Je ne regrette rien." I Regret Nothing.

If I'm going to remember a moment in my life, it's going to be That moment.

Gosh Teresa, this is so beautiful that it makes me want to pull up roots, again, and move there. I can see it so well from your description and Piaf sets such a mood also. Thanks for this glimpse into a day in your past.Linda

I can't translate every word, but he's inviting you to visit his blog, which includes stories, poetry, and many other things he hopes you will enjoy. It's in Portuguese and he is in Brazil. I enjoyed this post and it makes me want to recall my special memorable moments. Please do tell about that pot, and show us more of it.

Towanda, It's a magical place of many good memories. I really came into my own in these canyons and the surrounding area. I could take it with me to Here, and that's okay with me.

BLOG, Nancy! Thanks for the translation. I knew I had a regular reader from Brazil, so it's good to connect. It's those gentle moments in time that resonate most deeply with me. I will post about the pot very soon!

Since you are a Nanci Griffith fan, you probably also follow Tom Russell... his song "Chocolate Cigarette" is a great one about Edith Piaf. I couldn't find a link for it, though. Maybe you already know it!Jeanne K (once more trying to get a comment through, wondering whether it matters if I am at work or at home)

That was a wonderful birthday, Teresa. Thank you for telling - and thank you for Piaff. She was a part of my youth like the other French singers from that period! `) She was so terribly sick for many years, and yet she was able to go on stage and sing her songs.(I love La Vie en Rose too).

The place you were sounds so exciting. The floor and the yellow table, and the wash outside. I can see the room and feel the warm breeze from the open windows. And then you had such a delicate meal. And listening to Piaff where she tells you so passionately to regret nothing!

It's good to have such memories, and you are a wonderful storyteller.Grethe `)

Grethe, I knew very little about her until the film came out. Marion Cotillard played her to perfection. A sad story, but she left us with an incredibly beautiful legacy. It was a truly memorable birthday. Perfect, even. Thanks so much.

Ms. Moon, Thanks for visiting. Your thoughts today really hit the mark. Thanks so very much for your refreshing perspective.

Memories like those are the one thing which we can take with us wherever we go. I have a similar memory; the meal, served anywhere else, or in anyone else's company, would have been forgettable. But I was with a close friend, in a beautiful setting in Florida, and so the simple grilled fish was one of the best things I've have ever tasted. Thank you for sharing your memory with us :-)

I love the way you paint a picture with words so we can all get a glimpse of that perfect meal. I remember hearing this song. I never knew the title or the words but her voice is defiantly, unforgettable! It didn't surprise me that she was singing about no regrets. :)Love to hear the story about the pot and see more of it, too.

Teresa,You have shared this story so beautifully, it now seems my own memory. That first photo seems to be taken at another perfect and repeatable moment. Lovely. Those red rock reflections and blue, blue sky. And the menu with pot; JB leaves a strong impression. :) Kidding aside, the handwork and patterning feels a natural part of the land. And the menu.

My first hearing of this singer and the song. Such a fine Sunday evening treat. Nothing better than having perfect moments so deeply embedded in our senses that they are with us always.

"...gently lifted and fell, lifted and fell..."We are lifted in reading this post. Thank you dear one. Hugs,Chris

I know what you mean about the ability of particular songs to take you directly to a place and how often that can be because of the chance hearing of a song or a singer rather than the music being normally associated with that place.

Good Morning, DJan, Thank you. I sometimes feel like The Mentalist, making notes of everything I see. I do it without actually thinking about it. Sometimes, it's what we see or feel, more than what we hear that gives us the most information. I think it's all part of my becoming a better "listener." Have a great day!

What a lovely place to dine, a majestic place to hike, and a lovely song and singer. Now, you must tell us about this pot and JB's pottery. It reminds me of one we bought in Santa Fe, which sits upon a shelf in our library.

Isn't it amazing the details we can remember about a time and a place? Amazing, as well, your way with words. You took me right to the Cow Canyon Trading Post. Thank you.

Linda S, I hope you have an opportunity to return to the SW. It would certainly be a perfect place for inspiration for your pottery, not that you need to travel for that. There is clay to be found right near there....

Good post Teresa Evangeline. I hadn't thought about Bluff, Utah in an awfully long while. I've got some precious memories of the town and the country nearby I was needing to savor at least one more time before I kick, and you inspired me to drag them out, dust them off and feel the swoon of it cradle me this morning.

Hey Jules, Nice to see you here again. I'd love to read your Bluff stories. Magical little town, isn't it? So down to earth, yet full of possibility. The surrounding country is outstanding. Enjoy those memories. And then tell us about them.